EI EI Engineering Ethics & Professional Conduct 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of licensure for Professional Engineers in the U.S.?
- To protect public health, safety, and welfare (Correct answer)
- To increase engineer salaries
- To restrict competition in engineering fields
- To standardize engineering education
Correct answer: To protect public health, safety, and welfare
PE licensure exists to safeguard the public by ensuring only qualified, vetted individuals can offer engineering services that affect public safety.
Question 2: An EI who passes the FE exam and completes the work experience requirement must apply for licensure through which entity?
- Their state's engineering licensing board (Correct answer)
- NSPE national headquarters
- The university that granted their degree
- The employer who supervised them
Correct answer: Their state's engineering licensing board
PE licensure is administered at the state level; each state's engineering licensing board reviews qualifications and grants the PE license.
Question 3: If an Engineer Intern signs and seals documents without being under the responsible charge of a licensed PE, this action is best described as:
- Unlicensed practice of engineering (Correct answer)
- Acceptable if the EI is highly experienced
- Permitted for routine technical drawings
- An administrative violation only
Correct answer: Unlicensed practice of engineering
Only licensed Professional Engineers may sign and seal engineering documents; an EI doing so constitutes unlicensed practice, which is illegal in all U.S. states.
Question 4: Which ethical principle requires engineers to act as faithful agents of their clients while also protecting the public?
- Dual obligation to client and public (Correct answer)
- Absolute client confidentiality
- Engineer-client privilege
- Employer sovereignty
Correct answer: Dual obligation to client and public
Engineers owe fidelity to clients and employers, but this duty is subordinate to the overriding obligation to protect public health, safety, and welfare.
Question 5: Accepting gifts or commissions from contractors in exchange for favorable project recommendations is a violation of which ethical standard?
- Prohibition against bribery and conflicts of interest (Correct answer)
- Prohibition against outside employment
- Requirement for continuing education
- Duty to report accidents
Correct answer: Prohibition against bribery and conflicts of interest
Accepting gifts or commissions that could influence engineering recommendations constitutes bribery and a conflict of interest, both of which are violations of professional engineering ethics codes.
Question 6: An engineer realizes mid-project that the scope has grown beyond their area of expertise. The ethically correct action is to:
- Disclose the limitation and bring in qualified experts (Correct answer)
- Continue without disclosure to maintain the contract
- Resign from the project immediately without notice
- Delegate only the unfamiliar portions secretly
Correct answer: Disclose the limitation and bring in qualified experts
Engineers must disclose competency limitations and either bring in qualified assistance or refer the client to a more appropriate specialist.
EI EI Engineering Ethics & Professional Conduct 2
What is the primary purpose of licensure for Professional Engineers in the U.S.?